Orioles hang on to defeat Vermillion, improve to 2-0 on the season
- Lennox Independent Staff
- Sep 7, 2023
- 2 min read
After a dramatic final minute, the Lennox High School football team earned their second win of the season, defeating Vermillion 18-12 on the road.
The Orioles led 12-6 in the final minutes but a botched snap on a punt, allowed Vermillion to scoop the ball up and score. The point after failed but the Tanagers managed to tie things up at 12 all.
With just over a minute left in the game, Lennox managed to get down the field and were soon in scoring position after a pass interference call went their way. Boston Katzer found Drake Mikkelsen for the 21-yard pass, giving Lennox the 18-12 lead and eventual victory.
In the opening quarter, Lennox got on the board first as Porter Ihnen caught a one yard pass from Katzer. The two-point conversion failed. Vermillion tied things up in the opening quarter on a one yard run, their point after failed as well knotting the game up at 6 apiece.
Lennox broke the tie as Tate Gerdes grabbed an interception and returned it 47 yards for the score. The two point conversion failed but gave Lennox the 12-6 lead at the half.
There was no scoring by either team in the second and third quarters.
Lennox finished the night with 256 total yards, gaining 104 in the air and 152 on the ground. Vermillion finished with just 114 yards offense
Katzer completed 14 of 22 passes for 104 yards for Lennox. He threw one interception in the game. Chase Faulds grabbed five passes in the game for 26 yards. Ihnen had four grabs for 45 yards and Mikkelsen had the lone grab for the 21 yard touchdown in the final stretch.
On the ground, Corbin Hanneman finished the night with 65 yards rushing on 11 caries to lead the team.
Defensively, the Orioles got to Vermillion’s quarterback four times in the game with Carter Benning, Nate Haar and Talen Eich all recording sacks.
Gerdes led the team in tackles with six in the game. Carter Benning had five, Haar, Ethan Larson, and Eich each had four, Katzer, Teegan Musser, and Max Weeldreyer each had two.
Gerdes and Lucas Bontje each recorded an interception for the Orioles.
Lennox will be on the road again this Friday, Sept. 8 when they travel to Canton for the Black and Blue Bowl. Canton has opened the season 2-0, with wins over Sioux Falls Christian (30-16) and Beresford (42-14). Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. at Coplan Field in Canton.
